Pensioners need more help with heating this winter, Unite leader says

Trade unionists are to demonstrate outside Holyrood calling for pensioners to have more help heating their homes this winter.

Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said the latest steps from SNP ministers to reinstate a winter fuel payment from 2025/26 does not go far enough.

Last week, the Scottish Government announced every pensioner in Scotland would receive a winter heating payment of at least £100 from next winter.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said those in receipt of pension credits or other benefits would receive £200 or £300.

Scottish ministers were forced to delay plans to bring in the devolved pension age winter heating payment this year when the universality of its UK-wide counterpart was cut.

Later on Tuesday, Scottish Labour will table amendments to a Government Bill which would expand winter heating payments under the devolved system.

The amendments, during Stage 3 of the Social Security (Scotland) Bill, would also include a tapering provision so money can be recovered from those on higher incomes.

Ahead of the demonstration at Holyrood, Ms Graham said: “Scottish pensioners are facing winter right now. They must not be left to freeze just because the UK Government has picked their pockets.

“The Scottish Government and Scottish Labour have been listening and we welcome steps to restore the cuts next year, but jam tomorrow won’t keep pensioners’ homes warm this winter.

“Unite’s campaign has now seen some positive moves in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, but that is not enough.

“We will not stop until the winter fuel payment is restored across the UK.”

Scottish Labour social security spokesman Paul O’Kane said: “This is a chance to come together to deliver for the people of Scotland by agreeing to reinstate winter fuel payments.

“Scottish Labour’s amendments will scrap the restrictive rules and reinstate winter fuel payments for thousands of pensioners – something the SNP claims to support.

“There is cross-party agreement that the criteria system isn’t wide enough and now that Labour has delivered record levels of funding for Scotland we have the money and the powers we need to change it.

“I hope MSPs from across the chamber will put their constituents first and make this a moment of unity for our Parliament.”

Ms Somerville said: “That Labour in Scotland ever pretended they cared about fixing the UK Labour Government’s Winter Fuel Payment mess was laughable enough. That they are still proceeding with this charade after the Scottish Government has already confirmed that we will reinstate universal payments from next year is even worse.

“Labour’s proposals could mean that pensioners would not be paid in Winter 2025/26, and would even claw money back from some pensioners. It makes absolutely no sense – it is nothing more than a cheap stunt to try to deflect criticism of the UK Government’s cut.

“In contrast, we have listened carefully to older people across Scotland who told us that the Labour UK Government’s betrayal on the Winter Fuel Payment was completely unacceptable and are taking action to fix the problem.

“If Scottish Labour really want to help clean up UK Labour’s mess, they will support the Scottish Government Budget and its universal support for pensioners – and join us in calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision so we don’t have to mitigate reckless Westminster policies.”